Instruction device for musical instruments



Aug. 23, 1927. 1,640,125.

FL C2.l LlhH INSTRUCTION DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Oct. 25, 1924 ATTEIIXNEY Patented Aug. 23,1927.

new 5 Arts itamin G. KLiLNK, or TOLEDO, OHIO.

Application filed October 23, 1924. Serial No. 745,331.

This invention relates to instruct-ion devices. i D This inv ntion has utility whenincorporated in stringed musical instruments of the violin type in which the neck of the instrument is not divided into sections by fretwork or has the notes indicated on the neck by other marking means.

Referring to the drawings: p

'Fig. 1 is a plan view of a violin having theinvention herein disclosed incorporated therewith; 1 p

Fig. 2 is-a partial section'on the line IIII, Fig 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; V

Fig. 3 is aside view of a violin, parts being broken away, showing the device of the invention herein attached thereto;

Fig.4 is a perspective view of the skeleton frame used in the device herein disclosed;

Fig. 5 is a view showing a modification of the device herein; and

Fig. 6 is a view on the line VI-VI, Fig. 5, looking in the direction ofthe arrow.

Beginners on the violin, cello, bass Viol, or viola, must learn to place their fingers upon the proper strings and at the proper places on the strings in order to produce the desired tones or notes. The neck or finger board of this type of instrument, is not marked in any manner to aid the pupil in his proper fingering. He must learn to do this guided in two ways that is, his fin gers must become accustomed to involuntarily reach the proper distance and his ear must tell him that the note produced iscorrect. To do this, practice to the fingers and the ear are both necessary. A beginner practicing in private or away from a tutor can easily guidehimsel'l' into improper finger spacing, likewise accustom his ear to wrong tones which, if corrected early, would save muchtime in learning. The correction of this dii'liculty is accomplished by the invention herein.

Stringed musical instrument 1. has neck 2 mounting keys 3 for tuning strings 4 at tached thereto and extending therefrom longitudinally of the neck 2 and instrument 1 to be attached to the instrument remote from the keys 3. Strip or member 5 is attached to the neck 2 and serves as a part thereof as well as a finger board against which the player may press the string to produce different tones and notesin accord ance with the place upon the string against which the finger s placed.

"Skeleton frame 6 has main strips '7 which may be attached to the neck of the instrument,"one strip on each .side of the neck held'closely against'the neck by means or" bolts 8 having knurled nuts 9. One bolt 8 may-extend through openings 10 in the frame 6 andunder the' strings at the top of 'thefinger'board 5 while the other bolt Fries,

8 may extend through fopenings 11 in the frame '6 and under the opposite end of the linger board or member 5., The bolts c0- act with the strips 7 to create a clamping action holding the frame rigidly with the "a instrument. I

Supplemental. bridge. strips 12 extend upwardly from the main strips 7 and then transversely across the strings 4 at intervals. The transverse strips 12 serve to mount keys 1.3 which are manually operable.

These keys have fingers coacting with heads or'buttons 14 mounted on pins or plungers 15, which pins extend through the strips 12 to have pads 16 mounted thereon. The keys are somounted that upon depression the pads 16 will coact with the strings 4 to grip the strings 4 against the finger board 5. lVhen' not manually depressed the keys are held away from the strings 4 by helical springs 17 around the pins 15 between the heads 14 and strips 12.

The keys are so arranged along the finger board that upon depression the notes of the diatonic scale may be produced, that is the serves to mount one key for producing note F on the E string. Spaced from this strip 12 away from the keys 3 is a second strip mounting keys to produce notes A, E, B, on the G, D, and A strings respectively. The next set of stops produce F, C, G, on the D, A, and E, strings, the next strip mounts a key for producing B on the G string. The strips thus far extend but partially across the strings while the next two strips, that is the two most remote from the keys 3, extend entirely across the strings and serve to connect the main frame strips 7 and hold the entire device in a unit. These two strips may also serve to mount stops to produce top strip .12, or the one nearest the keys 3, v

tion of that note. The skeleton frame work allows the lingers to operate upon the strings between the keys for producing the tones of the chromatic scale. The keys each have marked upon its head 14 with the particular letter or symbol 19 produced by that key thus further aiding the pupil in teaching him the different notenames.

The keys being held in position as to the strings insure a. perfect note to train the car as well as give the proper finger spacing to train the fingers. The device may be readily mounted upon the instrument with no alteration or marring of the instrument and may be just as readily detached for independent playing.

The device may be somewhat modified as shown in Fig. 6, in which the pads 16 may be carried by leaf springs 18 carried from the main frame strips 7. The device may be stamped from sheet metal and thus add no detrimental weight to the instrument.

Lugs 20 are placed on the side frame members 7 to insure the proper spacing of the pads 16 above the strings 4 and keep the device fr-"m slipping. These lugs 20 coact with the member 5 and aid in the proper spacing of the keys as to the strings.

Vhat is claimed and it is desired to se cure by Letters Patent is 1. A skeleton note location instruction device for attaching to the tapering neck of a stringed musical instrument comprising a pair of integral main strips positioned in converging planes, supplemental strips upstanding from the main strips and extending transversely therebetween. to provide clearway regions and keys carried by the supplemental strips unobstructing the clearway regions.

2. An instrcution device for attaching to the tapering neck of a stringed musical instrun'ient embodying a frame having a main body. strip members from the main body extending over the diatonic scale note measuring points of the strings of the instrument leaving exposed the chromatic scale points not included in the diatonic scale and keys carried by said strips having contacting pads.

In witness whereof I affix -my signature.

I-IEBER C. KLINK. 

